Safety device for refrigerators



Dec. 18, 1962 F. A. JENNE ETAL SAFETY DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATORS FiledOct. 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Frank .4. Jenna Clarence A. JennaINVENTORS 405'.

BY i 3% F. A. JENNE ETAL SAFETY DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATORS Dec. 18, 1962 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 24, l958 Fig.

M Q a/ I I I I g;

Clarence A. Jenna INVENTORS BY I, Among:

Dec. 18, 1962 F. A. JENNE ETAL SAFETY DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATORS 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 24, 1958 Fig.7

Frank A. Jenna Clarence A. Jenna INVENTORS Dec. 18, 1962 F. A. JENNEETAL 3,068,811

SAFETY DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed Oct. 24, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 4FI'gJO I I 1 -53 a 5 Frank A. Jenna 1 2/4 7 Clarence A. Jenna x 1INVENTORS 220 Q g 8 BY mdfiwayfiw Unitd States 3,068,811 SAFETY DEVICEFOR REFRIGERATORS Frank A. Jeane and Clarence A. Jenne, both of 1519Woods Road, Florence, S.C. Filed Oct. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 769,415 12Claims. (Cl. 109-635) This invention relates to safety devices and moreparticularly to safety devices which prevent unfortunate accidentscaused by suffocation of children in refrigerators, usually abandonedrefrigerators.

An object of the invention is to provide means by which to eliminate thedanger of children becoming trapped within a refrigerator or likecabinet, by one or more structures preventing the refrigerator door fromclosing. In one example, all of the shelves must remain in the refrierator at which time it is presumed to be impossible for a child toenter the refrigerator and either close the door behind him or havesomeone else close the door with the child in the refrigerator.

The realistic danger of a child becoming captive within a refrigeratorhas received public notoriety due to a number of unfortunate accidentswhich have received national publicity. In each instance the accidentscould have been prevented if the child were unable to enter therefrigerator. Therefore, it is a further object of the invention to makeit virtually impossible for a child to enter a refrigerator and have thedoor close behind the child due to the existence of automatic means inthe refrigerator which prevents the door from closing tightly behind thechild should he enter the refrigerator.

Although there has been some local legislation requiring that the locksor doors of abandoned refrigerators be removed, this is an indirectapproach to the problem. This invention would have installed in eachrefrigerator as an integral part of the construction thereof, positivelyacting means rendered operative in response to several stimuli forproviding an abutment in the path of travel of a part of the door or anattachment on the door so that the door could not be completely or evenpartially latched.

As an example of the nature and substance of the invention, there is astructural assembly built in one side of the refrigerator cabinet andoperatively connected with the tray in the refrigerator. When any one ofthe plurality of trays is removed, a plunger is automatically projectedoutwardly of the cabinet of the refrigerator and forms an abutmentpreventing the door from closing. When magnetic locks are used on thedoor of the refrigerator, the plunger functions very effectivelypreventing the door from approaching the magnetic field where thestrength is sulficient to pull the door closed and hold it locked. Wheremechanical latches are used, the door is sufliciently far open toprevent the latch from becoming engaged. However, when the trays, thatis, when each tray is installed in the refrigerator, the plunger isretracted enabling the refrigerator, cabinet structure and door tofunction properly.

The presumption is that when all trays are returned to their properplace in the refrigeratro, the child cannot enter the cabinet. It isnoted that even with the presence of a safety device in therefrigerator, the trays are not in any way interfered with. They may beremoved for cleaning and replaced or may be slid in and out, such aswith refrigerators having rolling type trays, racks or the like Withoutinterference from and by the safety device.

The safety device may be made to function in response to other conditionresponsive means, maneuvers or adjustments of the refrigerator. Forinstance if the refrigerator is about to be abandoned, it wouldordinarily be lifted and carried away. One of the embodiments of thisinvention sets the plunger into operation at the instant that therefrigerator is lifted above a predetermined height. This enables therefrigerator to be lifted slightly for cleaning or for any other normalpurpose. But when the refrigerator is lifted a considerable height, forinstance an inch, the stop plunger is automatically projected outward sothat the door of the refrigerator cannot become fully closed.

Further, the safety device may be made to function when the refrigeratoris tilted through an angle greater than it would ordinarily be rocked ormoved in normal use of the refrigerator. Here again, in the process ofabandoning, storing or otherwise placing the refrigerator in a non-usecondition, the refrigerator is ordinarily tilted when it is being liftedand carried. Therefore, an inclinometer type of mechanism is operativelyconnected with the plunger for releasing the plunger so that it may beprojected to a position at which it prevents the refrigerator door frombecoming fully closed.

The above are but a few of the contemplated modes of operation of theinvention and practical embodiments with which the invention may bepracticed. Accordingly, it is a further object of the invention toprovide a plunger in a refrigerator which is adapted to be projectedinto the path of travel of the door or the refrigerator or a part of thedoor or an attachment on the door, the plunger being rendered operativein response to one or more of a variety of condition responsive means torelease the plunger so that it promptly occupies a blocking position toprevent the door from completely closing.

A further object of the invention is to provide an electrical holdingcircuit to be used in connection with the safety device or devices inthe refrigerator whereby power must be available to electricallywithdraw locking pins in order to reset the plunger. This is ofimportance in an abandoned refrigerator where ordinarily no power isavailable. The construction of the mechanical means for re-v leasing theplunger enabling it to be spring projected into the path of travel ofthe door or an-attachment on the door are so constructed that theyoperate only in one' direction that is, when the shelves in therefrigerator are being withdrawn. When the shelves are being returned,electrical energy is necessary in order to electrically withdraw thelocking pins associatedwith each shelf operated mechanism in order toelectrically reset the safety device as well as mechanically reset it.The holding circuit is exceedingly simple but its presence makes itimpossible to frustrate the object of the safety device in the absenceof electrical potential which is ordinarily unavailable where arefrigerator is abandoned.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside inthe details of construction and operationas more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like immeralsrefer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator having the safetydevice therein.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 2'2 of FIGURE1.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 33 ofFIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view showing the details of the refrigeratordoor closing preventing structure in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an-enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing amodification of the safety device.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a refrigerator showing a furthermodification.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 88 of FIGURE 7.

line 99 of FIGURE 8.

3 FIGURE is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken on the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10.

' FIGURE 12 is a'partly elevational and partly sectional mountedbyhinges on side 16. Shelves 22, 24 and 26 serve-the same purpose asconventional shelves and may be made as wire racks or wire racks andglass panels or in any other Way. The sides of the refrigerator cabinetare each made of an outer panel and an inner panel with insulation 28therebetween. For instance, side 14 (FIGURE 3) has outer panel 30 andinner panel 32 between which insulation 28 is disposed. The spacebetween panels is ideally suited for a safety device 34 made of acylinder 38 as more clearly seen in FIGURES 1 and 2 whose open front endis in registry with aperture 40 (FIGURE 4) in the narrow panel 42 at thefront of the refrigerator cabinet and joined to panels 30 and 32.Conical seat 44 is in the open end of cylinder 38 to accept stop 46 thatis attached to the inner surface of door 18 and which is in alignmentwith the opening 40. The stop is in the shape of a truncated cone to fitinto the open end of cylinder 38 and conical seat 44.

Stop plunger 48 is axially slidably disposed in cylinder 38 and has anabutment collar 50 fixed to it between its inner and outer ends. Theinner end of the plunger has a centering disk 52 thereon adjacent to cap54 at the inner extremity of cylinder 38. A spring reaction disk 56 isattached to plunger 48 between abutment 50 and centering collar 52, andit has one end of spring 58 in engagement with it. The opposite end ofthe same spring is in contact with a partition wall 60 extending acrosscylinder 38 and having a central aperture through which the plunger rod48 is slidable. Accordingly, the compression in spring 58 is inadirection tending to eject the outer end of plunger rod 48 throughopening 40 to occupy the space between seat 44 and aperture 40 wherebyattachment 46 cannot enter the aperture 40 and seat 44, this preventingdoor 18 from becoming latched regardless of the type of latch used onthe refrigerator. It is Within the contemplation of the invention toomit the attachment 46 and simply lengthen the rod 48 so that it has itsouter end directly contact the door 18 and serve the same purpose.

The normal retracted position of the rod 48 is disclosed in FIGURE 4. Itis retained withdrawn within cylinder 38 by means of a means, latch stopor stop pin 64 located on one side of abutment 50. When on the otherside of abutment 50, stop pin 64 prevents rod 48 from being returned tothe normal position. This stop pin is disposed in a solenoid case 66which is secured to cylinder 38 and which has its axis perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of the cylinder. An opening 68 in a wall ofcylinder 38 enables the latch 64 to enter the bore of cylinder 38 and tobecome disposed in front of abutment 50 to limit movement of the plunger(FIGURE 4). Latch 64 not only functions to prevent extension of theplunger but it is also under control of latch control means forpreventing full retraction of the plunger from an extended position andhence constitutes the spring biased armature of a power operatedsolenoid 70. The solenoid has a winding 72 in solenoid case 66 toproduce the electromagnetic fiield for armature 64 in order to withdrawthe armature, that is, latch 64 from the path of travel of abutment 50so as to render the pin 64 inoperative or disable it as a plungerholding means. Spring 74 which is seated on the upper end of pin 64 andenclosed within a wall of case 66, reacts on pin 64 projecting it intothe bore of cylinder 38.

If the stop pin 64 is withdrawn from cylinder 38 by some conditionresponsive release means which shall be described subsequently, spring58 projects the outer end of plunger 48 into the path of travel ofabutment 46 with cam on plunger 48 striking partition wall 60 andlimiting the extent of movement of plunger 48 in a direction outwardlyof the cylinder. In moving to this position the cam 80 momentarilycloses solenoid latch control switch 82 and then permits the normallyopen switch to return to its open position. Switch 82 has a fixedcontact 84 attached to insulating block 86 on cylinder 38. Movablecontact 88 is also attached to block 86 and is made of a spring arm.Switch operator, consisting of leaf spring arm 89 is attached at one endinside cylinder 38 and has a projection 90 thereon which is engaged bycam 80. A pin 92 passing through a hole in the wall of cylinder 38, ispushed by switch operator 89;

and in turn, it pushes the spring arm movable contact 88 so that thecontacts 88 and 84 touch.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate one form of condition responsive releasemeans including the mechanical shelf release means for lifting pin 64 torelease the stop plunger 48. Typical shelf 22 is mounted in a pair oftracks attached to the inside surface ofthe refrigerator cabinet 12 inthe usual manner. The bottom of typical track 100 has an opening 102 inwhich rocker 104 is mounted for pivotal movement. The rocker has a fork106 at one end within which pin 108 is disposed. The opposite end of therocker has a cam 110 formed thereon and projected through opening 102into the track 100. Lift rod 112 is rendered operative as a conditionresponsive release means by carrying a pin 108 mounted vertically abovecase 66. The lift rod is passed through an opening (FIG- URE 4) in thetop of case 66 and is attached to the latch pin 64.

An approximately Z-shaped cam operator 114 is se-- cured to the edgechannel of shelf 22 so that when the shelf is pulled out of therefrigerator a portion 116 of the Z-shaped cam operator 114 strikes cam110 and oscillates it counter-clockwise as viewed in the orientation ofFIGURE 2. This lifts fork 106 and lift rod 112, thereby lifting the pin64 against the bias of spring 74. A similar lift rod operating mechanismis provided for each shelf of the refrigerator regardless of the numberof shelves for cooperation with the lift rod 112. Further, as seen inFIGURE 2 there is a normally open power supply control switch 120 at theinner extremity of track 100. A push-button 122 constitutes part ofswitch 120 and is permitted to extend from the switch casing when theshelf is withdrawn. This switch 120 is,

therefore, open when the shelf 22 is withdrawn from the refrigerator. 7

Reference is now made to FIGURE 13 showing one form of selectivelyconditioned reset means for a three shelf refrigerator includingnormally open power supply control switches 120, 120a and 12% connectedin series, there being one for each shelf. As is evident from inspectionof FIGURES 13, each shelf must be in the refrigerator, closing eachswitch 120, 120a and 12011 before coil 72 of the solenoid including itscontrol switch 82 (FIGURE 4) is capable of being energized. The powerlines 126 are operatively attached to the line power for therefrigerator making it a requirement that power be available before theplunger 48 can be reset or returned after it has once been extended byremovalof any one of the shelves.

Accordingly, all shelves have to be returned to the refrigerator inorder to close the three switches 120, 120a switch 82 and sufficient toenergize the circuit of FIGURE- 13 and cause the solenoid to lift thearmature, namely pin 64, so that abutment 50 may pass thereunder.Further movement of the plunger 48 inwardly of cylinder 38 causes theplunger to again occupy the position shown in FIGURE 4, upon opening ofswitch 82 so as to lock the plunger in retracted position. Thus, theshelf actuated switches together with the solenoid control switchcondition the solenoid for resetting the plunger to the retractedposition for subsequent release by either the shelf release mechanismhereinbefore described or by other release mechanism to be hereafterdescribed.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 5 and 6 showing another type ofcondition responsive release or alternate for the structuralorganization of FIGURE 4. These figures illustrate means for releasingplunger 48' in response to the lifting of the refrigerator cabinet abovea predetermined height. Otherwise considered, FIGURES 5 and 6 showsubstitute means for those operated by the removal of the shelves. Whenusing the refrigerator lift mechanism in place of the shelf releasemechanism as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, the solenoid 70 itself asillustrated in FIGURES 1 through 4 remains unchanged as to structure andfunction for which reason the solenoid casing illustrated in FIGURES 5and 6 remains labeled by reference numeral 66. However, modification ofthe plunger 48 and its abutment 50 is necessitated. It will therefore benoted that since the plunger is held retracted by condition responsivelatch pin 134 in FIGURE 5 rather than by pin 64, the length of theabutment is extended as compared to that in FIGURE 4 and hence isreferred to byreference numeral 50. The pin 64 in FIGURE 5 is thereforeretracted only by the solenoid 70 for resetting purposes as describedwith respect to FIG- URES 1 through 4. If desired, the pin 64 may alsobe rendered operative to latch the abutment 50'. when the plunger is inextended position as shown in dotted line in FIGURE 5, requiringsuitable modification to avoid contact of the pin 64 with the springtending to project the plunger. The plunger release mechanism thereforeconsists of a tube 130 rigidly attached to the bottom of cylinder 38,for instance by having a clamp collar 132 attached to the tube and tothe cylinder, by welding or by any other fastener. The pin 134constitutes the condition responsive release latch which is structurallyindependent of the plunger holding latch 64 and is axially slidable intube 130 and has a spring 136 seated thereon. The spring is also seatedon a shoulder 138 fixed in tube 130 as clearly seen in FIGURE 5, and thebias of the spring is in a direction to project the locking pin 134through an opening 140 in the wall of cylinder 38 and into the bore ofthe cylinder in front of abutment 50. This is the normal position of thelocking pin 134. It is withdrawn by spring 142 which is seated on thefoot 144 of the refrigerator attached to one end of rod 146 that is alsoaxially slidably disposed in tube 130. Shoulder 148 in tube 130 providesa reaction surface for spring 142, the latter spring being heavier thanspring 136 but held compressed by the weight of the refrigerator. Rod146 has a passage 150 through which a reduced diameter part of pin 134travels. A transverse pin 152 is in a pair of opposed openings in thehollow part of rod 146, extending across passage 150 and through a slot154 in the reduced diameter part of locking pin 140. The operation isnow evident. The refrigerator may be lifted a distance equal to thelength of slot 154 and rod 146 will be withdrawn without afiectinglocking pin 134. However, when the distance of slot 154 is exceeded inthe lifting of the refrigerator, the locking pin is withdrawn by pin 152contacting the lower end of slot 154, spring 142 all the time biasingthe rod 146 outwardly of tube 130 and ultimately withdrawing locking pin134 from its position in the path of travel of abutment 50 on plunger48. It will also be apparent that after extension of the plunger 48',the abutment 50 must prevent latching of the pin 134 so that the plungermay be reset.

FIGURE 12 illustrates still further alternate condition responsiverelease means of releasing the plunger 48' and is therefore also used inconjunction with the shelf operated plunger release mechanism. It willbe understood that the tilt release mechanism of FIGURE 12 cooperateswith the plunger 48 as does the release mechanism of FIGURES 5 and 6. InFIGURE 12 there is a tube attached to cylinder 38 and in alignment withan opening 162 therein. Locking pin 164 axially slidably moveable intube 160 is movable between an extended and retracted position. Spring166 is disposed in a part of tube 160, being seated on shoulder 168 intube 160 and seated on the lower surface of an enlarged part of lockingpin 164 that is, the part which has a normal position blocking thespring caused movement of plunger 48 by engaging abutment 50'. ThusFIGURES 5 and 12 differ from FIGURE 4 in the use of separate latchmembers for limiting movement of the plunger. FIGURE 12 difiers fromFIGURE 5 on the other hand in that a weight 170 is secured to a rod 172that has a semispherical head 174 mounted on a flange at its upper endand located in seat 176 at the lower extremity of tube 160; The chain178 is attached to head 174 and is attached to the lower end of lockingpin 164. The weight and arm 172 function as an inclinometer. When therefrigerator is tilted beyond a certain angle, weight 170 remainingvertical, causes the chain 178 to pull locking pin 164 against theyielding opposition of spring 166 and retract the locking pin 164 fromthe front face of abutment 50. Restoring the refrigerator to a levelposition after extension of the plunger 48' would not permit rel'atchingof the pin 164 because of the modified plunger abutment 50' as shown inFIGURE 12.

In FIGURES 7-1l there is a modification of the shelf operated releasemechanism. The ultimate operation of this form of the invention isprecisely the same as that described in connection with that disclosedin FIGURES 14. The refrigerator 200 has a side wall 202, a door 204 andother associated parts. The wall 202 has a housing 206 in which there isa vertically movable channel 208 having side Walls and a transverse wall210. The transverse wall: 210 has a tongue 212 struck from it (FIGURE 8)adapted to be contacted by rocker arm 214. The rocker arm is mounted ona pivot 216 carried j by the side of housing 206 and has a cam 218 atone extremity. The cam contacts tongue 212 and lifts the channel 208through the action of spring 220. The spring is secured at one end to apart of the housing 206 and secured at the other end to rocker 214 onthe side of pivot 216 opposite to that which has cam 218. The

push rod 224 is secured to rocker arm 214 by a pivot pin 2'26 and isengaged by the channel 228 along the edge of shelf 22. When shelf 22 isremoved, the rod 224 is extended inwardly by the action of spring 220and at the same time there is the accompanying lifting of channel 208.For smoothness of operation there is a spring finger 230 (FIGURE 9) onthe channel 228 of shelf 22, and it is the spring finger which engagespush rod 224 augmenting spring-biased movement of arm 214.

The lower end of channel 208 has a lift rod 240 which functions in themanner identical to the lift rod 112 as described with respect: toFIGURES 1 through 4, and hence is connected to the locking pin 242 ofsolenoid 244. The solenoid locking pin 242 is actually the armature ofthe solenoid, and there is an external loaded pin holddown spring 246seated on the solenoid case 248 and seated on the lower extremity ofchannel 208. The spring 246 is therefore arranged to be compressed bythe weight of the channel 208 when released for downward movement by thearm 214 occasioned by insertion of shelf 22. In this compressed state,the spring 246 will assist any upward displacing force applied tochannel 208.

Switch 250 (FIGURE 10) is precisely the same in function and practicallythe same in construction as switch 82 in FIGURE 4. The plunger 252 whichcorresponds to plunger 48, islocated in the cylinder 254; However, thereis a tension spring 256, instead of a compression spring like spring 58and the tension spring is secured to' seat 258 and to plunger guidecollar 260 attached to the plunger and slidably disposed in cylinder254. A spring, guide 262 accommodatesspring 256 and is attached to thecollar 26f). The tension spring 256 operates in a direction tending topull the plunger outwardly of cylinder 254, however, the plunger. isheld in the extended position by means of a one way camming abutment 266as illustrated in FIGURE 10, that is secured to the guide 262 includinga back edge for abutting pin 242 when the plunger 252:

is in its extended position.

As soon as a shelf is removed, the combined bias of spring 220 acting onarm 21 4 and the upward bias of the spring 246 in its compressed statewill suificiently counteract the weight of channel 2118 so that spring256 will be operative to extend the plunger with the camming abutments266 camming the pin 242 and channel 208 upwardly as it passes thereunderto finally occupy the latch position shown in vFIGURE by solid lines.The return of the plunger 252 enabling the door 204 of the refrigeratorto be closed is accomplished in precisely the same way as the return ofthe door 18 of refrigerator 10 includingpr-ior replacement of theshelves so as to close switch 272. The

switch 250 is the complete counterpart of switch 82 enabling relatchingof pin 242'in the retracted position of plunger 252 by momentarilyclosing of switch 250 by means of cam 270 on the plunger to energize thesolenoid 244 for withdrawing the pin 242. Switches 272 at the inner partof the refrigerator and in alignment with shelves 22, are the completefunctional counterparts of switches 120, 128a and 12%. V

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed,

means is prevented from retraction beyond an initial amount from anextended position, resilient means biasing the plunger means into saidextended position, abutment means connected to said plunger means, latchmeans operative for engagement :with said abutment meansto limitmovement of the plunger means, condition responsive release meansoperatively connected to said latch means for rendering the latch meansinoperative, to permit extension of the plunger means by the resilientmeans, latch control means operatively connected to said latch means andeffective to render the latch means operative for preventing retractionof the plunger means beyond said initial amount from said extendedposition, and selectively conditioned reset means operatively connectedto the latch control means for temporarily rendering the latch controlmeans ineffective in responsive to retraction of the plunger means saidinitial amount to permit full retraction of the plunger means. p

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said latch control meanscomprises biasing said latch means into a position for engagement bysaid abutment means and power operated means for retracting saidlatchmeans from engagement with the abutment means.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein said selectively conditionedreset means comprises power supply control means rendered operative tosupply power to the latch 8 control means, for rendering the latterineffective, and plunger displacement responsive control meansoperatively connecting said power supply control meansto the latchcontrol means for momentarily disabling the latch control means when thepower supply control means is rendered operative. p a.

4. The combination of claim 3, wherein said power supply control meanscomprises a plurality of normally open switches connected in series,said power operated means being a normally deenergized solenoidenergized by a supply of current in a path rendered conductive byclosingof all of said switches.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said power supply control meansfurther includes refrigerator shelfmounted switch actuators. 6. Thecombination of claim 5 wherein said condition responsive release meanscomprises, a latch control member independent of said latch controlmeans, means operatively connecting said latch control member to thelatch means and responsive to a predetermined displacement of therefrigerator for Withdrawing the latch means.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein said selectively conditionedreset means comprises power supply control means rendered operative tosupply power to the latch controlmeans, for rendering the latterineffective, and plunger displacement responsive control meansoperatively connecting said power supply control means to the latchcontrol means for momentarily disabling the latch control means when thepower supply control means is rendered operative.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein said powei";

supply control means includes refrigerator shelf-mounted switchactuators.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the condition responsive releasemeans comprises, mechanical means operatively engageable with said latchmeans to effect withdrawal thereof independent of the reset means andmeans responsive .to withdrawal of a refrigerator shelf from therefrigerator for rendering the mechanical means operative to preventwithdrawal of the latch means.

10. The combination of claim 11, wherein said condition responsiverelease means comprises, a latch control member independent of saidlatch control means, means oper- .atively connecting said latch controlmember to the latch means and responsive to a predetermined displacementof the refrigerator for withdrawing the latch means.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said selectively conditionedreset means comprises'power supply control means rendered operative tosupply power to the latch control means, for rendering the latterinelfective,

and plunger displacement responsive control means operatively connectingsaid power supply control means to the latch control means formomentarily disabling the retraction holding means when the power supplycontrol means is rendered operative.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said power supply control meansfurther includes refrigerator shelfmounted switch actuators.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

